-“On the 22nd of August [1965], having completed shore bombardment exercises, we headed North again but our visit to Hong Kong was delay as we were assigned to proceed to Pratas Reef to be of assistance to the USS FRANK KNOX which ran aground on the 17th of July. It was on the morning of the 24th of August that KNOX gently slid back off the reef, thanks to the COGSWELL’s 34 KT parallel runs.” (Orlie G. Baird, Capt. USS COGSWELL DD-651)
-“FROM CTYF 73 INFO COGSWELL: FRANK KNOX AFLOAT AT 0530H DRAFT APPEARS NORMAL. SIX DEGREE STARBOARD LIST. DETAILS TO FOLLOW. HALLELUJAH.” (From 1965 cruise book) Editor’s note: I clearly remember tearing this message off the TTY and running up to the bridge to present it to Capt Baird.
12 SEPT 1965
-“FROM RADM DUBOIS TO COGSWELL: THE “HEADS UP” ALERTNESS AND PROMPT ACTION OF COGSWELL IN THE RESCUE OF THE SURVIVORS OF THE C1A ACCIDENT ON 12SEPT IS NOTED WITH PLEASURE AND IS A CREDIT TO ALL HANDS CONCERNED”
-“FM CTG 76.4 TO COGSWELL: WELL DONE ON PILOT RESCUE YESTERDAY.”
-“FROM DESRON 21 TO COGSWELL: YOUR HEADS UP RESCURE OF INDEPENDENCE PERSONNEL ON 12 SEPT AND THE RESCUE OF VNAF PILOT ON 22 SEPT ARE NOTED WITH PLEASURE. EXTEND A WELL DONE TO ALL HANDS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS.”
-“FROM COMDESDIV 212 TO COGSWELL: YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT OF DUTY AS PLANE GUARD DD IN THE RESCUE OF 5 SURVIVORS, INCLUDING ONE WITH BROKEN ARE AND OTHER INJURIES AND ONE WITH BROKEN LET, FROM THE USS INDEPENDENCE C1A AIRCRAFT WHICH CRASHED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF ON 12 SEPT IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA WAS DEMONSTRATIVE OF A HIGH LEVEL OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND SHIPLANDLING SKILL. YOUR PROMPT ACTION FORSTALLED FURTHER INJURY OR ADDITIONAL LOSS OF LIFE OF SURVIVORS FROM THIS PLANE CRASH. WELL DONE.” ((From 1965 Cruise Book)
“On the 22nd of September the Cogswell added another feather to her cap by rescuing a Vietnam pilot out of the harbor [Danang] after he bailed out of his crippled air craft. The COGSWELL’s action prompted the following praise from RADM Dubois: “COGSWELL’s PROMPT AND SUCCESSFUL RECOVER ON 22 SEPT…
Turkish Navy[edit]
Cogswell made four deployments to Southeast Asia during the war in Vietnam. Following her last deployment, Cogswell was decommissioned on 1 October 1969 and given to the Turkish Navy, where she served as TCG İzmit (D 342) until 1981. She was scrapped after her service in the Turkish Navy.
Honors[edit]
Cogswell received nine battle stars for World War II service.
# https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Cogswell_(DD-651)
*Down to the Sea: An Epic Story of Naval Disaster and Heroism in World War II; Bruce Henderson